title: On lifting the fog of war in the battle on heart disease: Star Wars technology in pursuit of a seamless integration strategy.
abstract: In our efforts to reduce cardiac morbidity and mortality we often use terms such as the "battle" or "war" on heart disease. If we believe efforts to reduce cardiac disease are the moral equivalent of war, then perhaps we should explore ways that military strategic and tactical metaphors can be applied through technology to the cardiac battle. In this article we explore three major areas for technological advancement: adaptation of the strategies of outcomes management and evidence-based medicine, computer simulation and animation efforts to create horizontal and vertical integration of strategic efforts, and use of interactive multimedia in "recruiting an army" through community empowerment. The overall goal is to find ways to lift "the fog of war" in the battle on heart disease, in order to further the integration of our various efforts.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Espinosa
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Kosnik
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kraitsik
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dillow
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D003198:Computer Simulation; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D019212:Multimedia; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012040:Regional Health Planning; D012955:Societies, Medical; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy